Written by

MICHELLE SPITZER

FLORIDA TODAY

Shuttle memories

With the shuttle program nearing its end, FLORIDA TODAY talked to Space Coast residents about their special shuttle memories. This is the first of a daily series through landing.

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For 24 years, Dotti Kunde was among a handful of people lucky enough to spend time with the astronauts in the hours before they boarded the shuttle.

She wasn't a high-up executive for NASA. She wasn't part of the team who helped the astronauts get suited up and she wasn't a member of the close-out crew.

Kunde was one of the women responsible for feeding the astronauts in crew quarters before they embarked on their journey.

"We in the kitchen are probably some of the last people they kiss and hug before they leave," Kunde, 86, said. "We say, 'Have a safe journey. See you when you get back. We'll be here.' "

Kunde retired from the "dream job" about three years ago. She has since written two cookbooks about her time baking cookies, whipping up omelets and grilling steaks for the people she considered family.

"To me I felt like they were my children," Kunde said. "They would come in the kitchen and steal cookies while we were baking and there were certain things they couldn't have and we would say 'No, you can't have that.' "

As the shuttle program comes to an end, Kunde reflected on the career that flourished after responding to a nondescript newspaper ad looking for a food service technician to work three days a week.

"It was like a dream," Kunde said. "As I think back now, I feel like I was a very lucky person."